Urban Construction Update - August 2017

August 31, 2017

Major construction projects have returned to the landscape of Jacksonville's urban core. Find out where (and more) as we take a brief look at the status of various developments under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville during the month of August 2017.

RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE and MURRAY HILL

24. Biggie's Pizza

Biggie's Pizza plans to open in the former location of Pizza Italian restaurant at 1053 Park Street. The Five Points space will be the Jacksonville Beach-based restaurant's second location.

25. Barrique Kitchen & Wine Bar

Work continues on plans to open the Barrique Kitchen & Wine Bar at 3563 St. Johns Avenue. The 5,000 square foot, 100-seat restaurant and wine bar will include a theme that has been described as intimate with "Old European charm." The New York-based concept's interior decor will be dominated by reclaimed wood, brick and stucco.

Beer:30 is working on expanding into the former King Street Laundromat at 1269 King Street. When complete, the 900-square-foot space would serve beer and wine and become Jacksonville's first retro arcade with games from the 1980s and 1990s.

Scott McAlister's Bearded Buffalo Brewing Company at 1012-1014 King St appears to be nearing completion. When completed, the facility will be a taproom, pilot batch brewing facility and a 24-seat restaurant.

Popular Gainesville restaurant Crane Ramen plans to open at 1029 Park Street in Five Points. According to the Jacksonville Business Journal, Crane Ramen's menu includes several varieties of ramen, including market veggie miso, spicy pulled pork paitan ramen, pork-bone broth ramen and a cold ramen tossed with vegetables in a ginger dressing. Other choices include panfried pork dumplings, pork belly steamed buns and wok-fried chicken thighs.

Longtime local automobile dealer Mike Shad recently acquired the historic Delgado Building at Oak and Barrs streets. Shad plans for the property include renovating five upper floor apartment units and leasing the first floor to the owners of the Full of Crepe Food Truck. They plan to open The Stuffed Beaver, a French/Canadian-inspired brasserie that promises to elevate poutine and crepes in Jacksonville's burgeoning restaurant scene. A second ground floor retail space will be used to sell Pedego Electric Bikes, which can be pedaled manually and also be powered electrically.

Construction continues on the River & Post Restaurant and Rooftop Bar at the Summit Tower at 1000 Riverside Avenue. The $1 million project includes a ground floor 233-seat restaurant with outdoor seating and a rooftop bar with 154 seats. With plans to open in fall 2017, the restaurant's menu will feature Southern American cuisine with a focus on seafood and steaks.

Mother-daughter duo Patricia and Mariah Goelz are opening an eco-home store called Cultivate this fall in the King Street District at 2766 Park Street. If the name sounds familiar, then you may have visited the popular vegan cafe called Southern Roots Filling Station. Mariah and JP Salvat started Southern Roots in 2014 at 1275 King Street, just a block away from Cultivate.

Chef Scott Schwartz, a partner involved with the Laura Street Trio's proposed Bullbriar Restaurant and owner of Fernandina Beach's 29 South Restaurant plans to open a new dining concept in Murray Hill at 947 Edgewood Avenue South. To be called El Jefe, the proposed 158-seat full-service Tex-Mex restaurant is planned to open in fall 2017.

According to a recent Jax Daily Record article, Schwartz described El Jefe as an affordable and casual Tex-Mex concept “dedicated to celebrating the diverse cuisines of America’s southwestern borderlands.” The menu will include classics like wood-grilled skirt steak fajitas, San Antonio puffy tacos, Texas-style chili con queso and traditional tamales, he said.

Chance Partners is in the process of renovating the Commander Apartments Tower and building additional multifamily housing along Fishweir Creek, along St. Johns Avenue. Construction on the $40 million, 228-unit development, now known as RiverVUE, is anticipated to be completed in 2018.

This historical residence at 1132 Edgewood Avenue South is being renovated into a 1,280 square foot space for MOMNI Boutique & Alterations.

39. Hamburger Mary's

Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille is scheduled to open in mid-July at the former Blind Rabbit in Riverside. When complete, Hamburger Mary’s in Riverside will have its signature hamburgers — and late-night drag shows on Friday and Saturday and a brunch show every Saturday and Sunday.

South 17 Office Park at 4339 Roosevelt Boulevard is in the process of being renovated.

41. The Loop Pizza Grill

The Loop Pizza Grill is in the process of constructing a new 3,100 square foot restaurant next to Sadler Point Marina at 4619 Roosevelt Boulevard. The 116-seat restaurant will be a replace for the Loop's former St. Johns Village location in Avondale. It's expected to open in 2017.